Inhalation apparatus for powder medications

ABSTRACT

An inhalation device for administering powdered forms of medication includes a housing with a rotatable dosing ball associated with an opening of a powdered reservoir located inside the housing. The dosing ball may be operated manually and includes a peripheral dosing cavity for receiving a dose of powder. The dosing ball is connected with a torsion spring and further includes a stop piece. In addition, the dosing ball is associated with a pivotable trip flap that has a movable limit stop. The dosing ball is preloaded by turning the dosing ball until the stop piece comes to rest on the movable limit stop of the trip flap. The dosing ball is then released as normal user breathing triggers a swaying of the trip flap. The stop piece is configured to hit against the bottom of the housing which abruptly blocks acceleration of the dosing ball, which in turn causes the medicine to be catapulted out of the dosing cavity and be widely dispersed in the stream of respiratory air so that the medicine may be inhaled completed and in sync with respiration. Overdosing or release of multiple doses is thus prevented by the inhalation device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a inhalation device for administering powderedforms of medication which includes a housing with a rotatable dosingapparatus that has a circular perimeter area and is associated withdefines opening of a powder reservoir located inside the housing thatcan be operated manually and comprises a peripheral dosing cavity forreceiving a portion of powder, and a mouthpiece connected to the housingat the level of the dosing apparatus and opposing air intake holes so asto form an air duct in which the powder dose released by turning thedosing apparatus is catapulted into the user's stream of respiratoryair.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

An inhalation device of this type that works without a propellant oradditional air has been described, for example, in EP 0 559 663. Thispowder inhalator comprises a reservoir filled with a powdered form ofmedication that is located inside a housing, the funnel-shaped openingof which being locked by a dosing drum that can be turned manually. Theperimeter of the dosing drum comprises at least one dosing cavity whosesize matches the powder dose to be inhaled and which is filled withmedicine whenever it is in the opening range of the powder reservoir. Amouthpiece is connected at the level of the dosing apparatus, and airintake holes are located at the opposite side of the housing. When thedosing drum is turned , the powdered form of medicine falls into the airduct of the mouthpiece, either by mere gravitational force or boosted bya vibrating mechanism, and is inhaled with the patient's stream ofinhaled air. The known problem of this device type, i.e. completedischarge of the medicine from the dosing cavity and the mouthpiecewhich is critical for reliable dispersing and dosing is to be achievedhere by a specific air conduction system that causes puff blowing of thedosing chamber and complete inhalation of the powder dose through ashort air path.

However, the inhalation devices of the type described have adisadvantage in that the medicine is not completely blown out or is notadequately dispersed in the air stream to ensure reliable dosing whenthe stream of inhaled air is weak only. Dosing reliability isfurthermore reduced by the fact that medicine will be fed into themouthpiece even if inhalation is weak or does not take place when thedosing apparatus is operated manually but will completely or partlyremain there, so that any subsequent inhalation process will result inoverdosing or multiple dosing.

To boost the stream of inhaled air, improve dispersion, and make theintake of the medicine more reliable, powder inhalators have beenproposed that are equipped with a pumping device to produce anadditional stream of compressed air.

For example, a defined dose of a powdered medicinal substance is placedinto the flow channel of a mouthpiece located at the side of apropellant-free inhalation device as described in EP 0 549 605l using aplunger that can be moved by pressing a button inside a lateral recessforming a dosing cavity. At the same time, one interior wall of saiddosing cavity is in communication with the cylinder of a pump. Thepreloaded plunger of the pump is released using a switching deviceoperated by inhaling to produce an air stream which places the powderedmedicinal substance via a nozzle into the stream of inhaled air andspreads it therein.

This inhalation device consists of a multitude of the most variouscomponents due to sophisticated mechanisms for dosing and for producingand releasing an additional stream of compressed air. Such inhalatorsare therefore very expensive as regards manufacture and assembly oftheir components, and they are susceptible to failure due to theircomplicated design and the required interaction of various elements,especially when dust, dirt, and breathing moisture can intrude.Moreover, complete- charging of the dosing cavity which forms a lateralrecess cannot be guaranteed or can only be ensured by adding morecomponents. As said additional stream of air is produced by the motionof the pump plunger and conducted to the dosing cavity via a sievebottom, the required blowing pressure to be exerted upon the powderedmedicine is either weak or requires a powerful pumping unit.

Another decisive disadvantage of this solution is the fact that thepowdered form of medication is in the mouthpiece before the stream ofcompressed air is released in sync with respiration, and that it remainsthere if it is not inhaled. On the one hand, this may result in doubledosage when the medicine is taken at a later point in time, on the otherhand the medicinal substance lying bare can be contaminated or getmoist, which would impede the operation of the powder inhalator. Inaddition, the known powder inhalators are not adequately protectedagainst intrusion of dirt and moisture, especially breathing moisture,or unintentional release of the powdered form of medicine.

It is therefore the problem of this invention to provide an inhalationdevice of the type described above that has a simple design, allows safehandling, can be produced at low cost, and guarantees exact dosing andcomplete inhalation of the powdered form of medicine, thereby reliablyexcluding overdosing and multiple doses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inhalation device of the present invention includes a dosingapparatus is that connected with elastic fastening devices and includesa stop piece, and the dosing apparatus can be preloaded until it hits ona movable limit stop while the dosing cavity remains within the range ofthe powder dispensing hole of the powder reservoir, the limit stop beingmovable by the user's breathing air for releasing the preloaded dosingapparatus. The accelerated motion of the dosing apparatus can be blockedsuddenly by the stop piece.

In other words, the basic concept of this invention is to preload thedosing apparatus before the medicine is taken or before the dosingcavity containing the medicine is placed within the air duct, and thatit is held in said preloaded condition to a limit stop that can be movedby inhaling. Inhaling releases and accelerates the dosing apparatus, andits accelerated motion is stopped abruptly when the stop piece of saiddosing apparatus hits on the housing or housing bottom. This suddeninterruption of the rotation of the dosing apparatus causes the powderedform of medication to be flung out of the dosing cavity at high speedand to be widely dispersed across the air duct. At the same time, theuser's inhalation air which caused the release of the dosing cavity andthe medicine is still active so that the finely dispersed powder dose isdirectly carried over into the stream of the user's respiratory air andcompletely taken in by the user's body via his or her respiratory tract.As the medicine is released by respiration, it has to be inhaled.Subsequent overdosing or multiple dosing due to residual powder in themouthpiece from a previous inhalation attempt is therefore excluded.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention said dosing cavity isdesigned as a dosing ball. The benefit of this design is that the airstream is swirled in the air duct which improves the dispersion of thepowder.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the movablelimit stop that keeps the dosing ball in a preloaded condition isattached to a trip flap that shuts the air duct and is pivotably hingedin the air duct. When the user breathes in, a negative pressure isgenerated that swings the trip flap and limit stop to release therotation of the preloaded dosing ball. Moreover, said pivotable tripflap prevents the intrusion of moisture into the interior of the housingas may be caused by unintentional exhaling into the mouthpiece

An advantageous improvement of the invention comprises an operatinglever for turning and preloading the dosing ball that is attached to theexternal side of the housing and to which a cap for sealing themouthpiece of the inhalation device is slidably mounted on rails. Thusthe cap will always be connected to the device and cannot be lost.Consequently, any risk of contamination or unintentional actuation ofthe arrested operating lever is either very low or completely excluded.

In accordance with another aspect of the design of the invention, apumping device is provided in the housing whose reservoir of compressedair is in communication with the dosing cavity via a valve unit in sucha way that when the preloaded dosing ball is triggered in sync withinhalation, i. e. when the powder dose is released from the powderreservoir, the valve unit will simultaneously release compressed air tothe dosing cavity or to the medicine contained therein. This improvesthe dispersion of the powdered form of medication, especially in theearly phase of deagglomeration. It also guarantees complete and reliableintake of the medicine by users with reduced respiratory capacity suchas older people or children.

Other features, useful designs and benefits of the invention follow fromthe description of an embodiment of the invention below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Two embodiments of the invention shall now be explained in more detailwith reference to the attached figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a lateral sectional view of the inhalation device of theinvention in its closed initial position,

FIG. 2 shows the inhalation device of FIG. 1 with the cap removed fromthe mouthpiece and folded downwards;

FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of the inhalation device ofFIGS. 1 and 2 at the time when the powdered form of medicinal substanceis inhaled;

FIG. 4 shows a lateral sectional view of an inhalation device accordingto the invention working without an additional stream of compressed airin its initial closed position;

FIG. 5 shows an inhalation device with an integrated nasal adapter inits mouthpiece; and

FIG. 6 shows three side views of the powder inhalator with different cappositions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The powder inhalation device that provides an additional stream ofcompressed air according to FIGS. 1 through 3 includes an oblong housing1 with a mouthpiece 2 fitted laterally to its lower end and a transversewall 3 at its upper end, the latter comprising an air exit hole 4 incommunication with a compressed air duct 5 leading to the lower part ofthe housing along the inner wall of said housing. The lower part ofhousing 1 comprises a hollow axle end 6 directed towards the interior ofthe housing and a capped nut (not shown in the figure) running in axialalignment with said axle end but propping up from the outer wall ofhousing 1. Said axle end and capped nut are integrally fitted to thewall of the housing at the level of the longitudinal axis of mouthpiece2, but in transverse direction to said axis. A first radial axle endhole 7 is located in the walling of said hollow axle end at the end ofsaid mouthpiece 2. The hollow formed inside axle end 6 is incommunication with said compressed air duct 5. In addition, there areair inlet holes 8 at the rear wall of said housing 1 opposite saidmouthpiece 2, and a curved oblong hole 9 in the side wall of saidhousing 1.

A cap 10 that can be shifted along guide rails (not shown) on mouthpiece2 is telescopically connected with an operating lever 11 (FIG. 2) whosefree end is pivoted at the above capped nut (not shown). The operatinglever 11 also comprises an extension that starts from a pivoted part atits swivelling axis (not shown) , the free end of which is in linkagewith an angle lever 23 located in the interior of housing via the curvedoblong hole 9 and a tappet 24. The telescopic connection of cap 10 tooperating lever 11 hinged to housing 1 allows removal of said cap frommouthpiece 2 while its connection to the inhalation device is retainedso that it cannot be lost.

A powder reservoir 12 with a powder discharge hole 12 a that pointstowards said axle end 6 is located above said axle end 6 inside saidhousing 1. There is an inspection glass 13 for level checking at thewall of housing 1 that faces said powder reservoir 12. The powderreservoir 12 consists of a transparent material. A disk 10 a is fittedto cap 10 to cover the inspection glass 13 for protecting the medicinefrom sunlight when cap 10 is pushed open.

The interior space of housing 1 is closed towards the opening ofmouthpiece 2 by a hinged trip flap 14 that can be swung upwards andoutwards. A limit stop 14 a is mounted to the side of trip flap 14 thatpoints towards the interior of the housing.

The powder discharge hole 12 a is sealed by dosing ball 15 that tightlyfits to its rim and extended rim areas. The dosing ball 15 comprises anaxial bore of the bearing 15 ain which it is pivoted on axle end 6.Furthermore, a torsion spring 16 with a short fixed leg 16 a and a longmovable leg 16 b rests on axle end 6, said short leg 16 a being fixed bysaid dosing ball 15.

The dosing ball 15 comprises a hemispherical dosing cavity 17 at itsperipheral surface that points towards said powder reservoir 12 forreceiving the powdered form of medication when said cavity is in therange of said powder discharge hole 12 a.

Said dosing ball 15 further comprises a radial valve hole 18 located inthe same sectional level as said first radial axle end hole 7. Ablowpipe 19 is connected to the opening of valve hole 18 at theperimeter of dosing ball 15 the open side of which is directed towardssaid dosing cavity 17. Finally, the peripheral surface of dosing ball 15comprises a stop piece 20 to arrest said dosing ball 15 either on limitstop 14 a or at the bottom of housing 1.

A bellows 21 comprising a hole that is connected to the air exit hole 4is located below said transverse wall 3. At its opposite end, saidbellows 21 rests on a support plate 22 that is connected to theabove-mentioned angle lever 23 that acts as compression bar. The freeend of angle lever 23 that is connected with the extension not shown) ofthe operating lever 11 outside housing 1 via the oblong hole 9 comprisesa protruding rectangular tappet 24 that is in linkage with the long leg16 b of torsion spring 16.

The function of the embodiment described above in static condition of apowder inhalator with compressed air reinforcement shall be describednext.

When the powder inhalator is in unused condition, cap 10 is slid ontomouthpiece 2 (FIG. 1) in such a way that intrusion of foreign particlesis prevented. It is therefore impossible for a user to remove or losecap 10 unintentionally or to trigger the administration of the medicineunintentionally when carrying the inhalator in a case, jacket pocket,etc.

The inspection glass 13 is covered by disk 10 a and protects thepowdered form of medicine in the transparent powder reservoir 12 againstsunlight. The trip flap 14 is in its vertical position in which it sealsmouthpiece 2. The bellows 21 and torsion spring 16 are in unstressedcondition as at the lower position of angle lever 23, and the dosingcavity 17 of the dosing ball rests in the powdered substance, i. e. tothe right of the funnel-shaped powder discharge hole 12 a as shown inthe figure. The powder reservoir 12 is designed to hold a single fill ofabout 200 doses.

To discharge one dose of the powdered form of medication determined bythe size of the dosing cavity 17, the cap 10 is removed from mouthpiece2 but remains inseparably connected to the operating lever 11 and thuswith the device as a whole. When the operating lever 11 is moveddownwards, the tappet 24 is swung along the curved oblong hole 9 intoits upper position, and the angle lever connected to the operating lever11 is pressed upwards to compress the bellows 21, thereby compressingthe air therein, and to turn the dosing ball 15 with the help of torsionspring 16 first until it its stop piece 20 touches upon limit stop 14aof the trip flap 14 and—from that moment on—to load torsion spring 16and thus to preload the dosing ball 15. The dosing cavity 17 is locatedin preloaded condition of the dosing ball 15 at the left edge of powderdischarge hole 12 a in the figure.

When the user inhales via the mouthpiece 2, the negative pressure thatis generated swings the trip flap 14 upwards and releases the dosingball that is held in place by limit stop 14 a, said dosing ball beingturned by the force of torsion spring 16 until the stop piece 20 audiblyhits onto the bottom of housing 1. At the same time, the radial valvehole 18 in said dosing ball 15 is brought into alignment with the firstradial axle end hole 7 of the hollow axle end 6 so that the aircompressed in the bellows 21 is impulsively blown via air exit hole 4,compressed air duct 5, the hollow of axle end 6, the radial axle endhole 7, the valve hole 18, and the blowpipe 19 into the dosing cavity 17which is accurately filled with the powdered medicine and placed outsidethe range of the powder reservoir 12.

The powdered form of medication is swirled with the stream of the user'sinhaled air by the blown in compressed air and the abrupt blocking ofthe rotation of dosing ball 15 as well as by centrifugal andgravitational forces and carried in fine dispersion into the user's airpassages. At the same time, the stream of compressed air boosts theatomization of the powder to guarantee safe inhalation of the powderedmedicament even at an inhalation volume below the average value of 11/s,e. g. with children and older people. The trip flap 14 falls back intoits initial vertical position immediately after inhalation, thusprotecting the dosing ball 15 and the powdered substance against moistrespiratory air when the patient unintentionally exhales into themouthpiece 2. Resetting of said trip flap to its initial verticalposition is also ensured by a butt that is located in the cap and actson the trip flap when the cap is closed (not shown).

When the operating lever 11 is moved into the closing position of cap10, the angle lever 23, the bellows 21 and dosing ball 15 as well astorsion spring 16 are set back to their initial position as shown inFIG. 1, the feed valve for compressed air formed by the axle end hole 7and the valve hole 18 or the lateral area of the centric bore of thebearing 15 a of dosing ball 15 being closed again. A second radial axleend hole 25 also referred to herein as an additional radial axle endhole, is located in the hollow axle end 6 to let air into the bellows21. When the dosing ball 15 is in its initial position, said secondradial axle end hole 25 is in alignment with the valve hole 18 (oranother hole not shown here) to allow air to flow into the bellows 21for another compression process.

The powder inhalator can only be activated again when the cap has beenremoved and the operating lever been moved again. It is only then thatanother dose of the medicament can get into the user's respiratorytract, this time carried in the stream of inhaled air only. If the userdoes not inhale and/or seal the mouthpiece 2 again, the powderedmedicament remains in the dosing cavity 17 within the powder reservoir12. Unintentional double or multiple dosing is excluded. In addition, anoise is produced when the stop piece 20 of the dosing ball 15 hits onthe housing bottom and foreign air is blown out of the blowpipe 19 witha hiss, said noise indicating to the user that the powdered medicamentreally was administered.

Thus the inhalation device can be handled safely and easily even by lessskilled users. As its few components are mainly made of injectionmoulded parts, it can be assembled conveniently and inexpensively in atwo-piece housing.

FIG. 4 shows a simplified embodiment of the inhalation device accordingto the invention, i. e. without the means for generating an additionalstream of compressed air. This embodiment is characterized by a simpledesign and uncomplicated manufacture; it guarantees excellent dispersionof the powdered medicine and reliable intake by the patient even withoutextra air. The dosing ball 15 is in its relaxed position with theconnected torsion spring 16 unloaded in the initial position shown inFIG. 1 when the mouthpiece 2 is sealed by cap 10. The tappet 24 of theoperating lever 11 that is linked to the long leg 16 b of the torsionspring 16 is at its lower position in oblong hole 9. When the cap 10 isremoved from the mouthpiece 2 and the operating lever 11 moved to theposition shown in FIG. 2, the dosing ball 15 turns simultaneously withthe motion of the tappet 24 until the stop piece 20 of said dosing ball15 hits on limit stop 14 a. When the operating lever 11 is moved onuntil its tappet 24 hits on the other, upper end of the oblong hole 9,the torsion spring 16 is bent, and the dosing ball 15 whose dosingcavity 17 is placed immediately at the rim of the powder reservoir 12 ispreloaded. When the patient inhales and the negative pressure therebygenerated in the mouthpiece results in flinging up the trip flap 14, thedosing ball is suddenly released. Its accelerated movement due topreloading is abruptly blocked when the stop piece 20 hits on the bottomof mouthpiece 2.

Sudden acceleration and blocking of the motion of the powdered form ofmedication contained in the dosing cavity 17 and centrifugal forcesresult in complete detachment of the medicine from the dosing cavity 17and its dispersion and swirling across a large area in their duct of themouthpiece 2. Complete intake of the powder dose by the patient isguaranteed without an additional stream of compressed air bysimultaneous and, due to the negative pressure, intermittent feed ofinhalation air.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of said powder inhalator with an integratedmonorhinal adapter 26 inserted into the mouthpiece 2. Said nasal adapter26 can be mounted fixedly or detachably and may be inseparably insertedinto the mouthpiece at a later point in time. Said nasal adapter 26 hasa unique design to fit to a specific inhalation device only.

FIG. 6 shows the inhalation device with its cap 10 completely slid ontothe mouthpiece 2, with its cap 10 removed from the mouthpiece 2, andwith its cap 10 removed and the operating lever 11 that activates theinhalator moved downwards. FIG. 5 clearly shows that the cap 10 isguided on a rail profile 11 a along said operating lever; it extends theoperating lever telescopically but always stays connected to it.

All powdered forms of medication can be administered using theinhalation device according to the invention. It has proved to beparticularly advantageous for treating asthmatic diseases and the like.

Active ingredients to be administered can be, for example,beta-sympathomimetics and corticoids. It is particularly suited for thefollowing substances and combinations/mixtures thereof: salbutamol,cromolyn sodium, budesonide, beclometason, reproterol, fenoterol.

1 housing 2 mouthpiece 3 transverse wall 4 air exit hole 5 compressedair duct 6 hollow axle end 7 first radial axle end hole (air outlet) 8air inlet holes 9 curved oblong hole 10 cap 10a disk 11 operating lever11a rail profile 12 powder reservoir 12a powder discharge hole 13inspection glass 14 trip flap 14a limit stop 15 dosing ball 15a bore ofbearing 16 torsion spring 16a short leg of 16 16b long leg of 16 17dosing cavity 18 valve hole in 15 19 blowpipe 20 stop piece of 15 21bellows 22 support plate 23 angle lever 24 tappet 25 second radial axleend hole (air inlet) 26 nasal adapter 27 air duct

What is claimed is:
 1. An inhalation device for powdered forms ofmedication, comprising: a housing with a rotatable dosing apparatus thathas a circular perimeter and is associated with a powder discharge holeof a powder reservoir located inside the housing, wherein the dosingapparatus is manually operable and includes a perpheral dosing cavityfor receiving a dose of powder; and a mouthpiece connected to thehousing at the level of the dosing apparatus and opposite from airintake holes defined in the housing so as to form an air duct in which apowder dose released by turning the dosing apparatus is catapulted intoa user's stream of respiratory air, wherein the dosing apparatus isconnected with elastic fastening devices and includes a stop piece,wherein the dosing apparatus can be preloaded until it hits on a movablelimit stop while the dosing cavity of the dosing apparatus remainswithin the range of the powder discharge hole of the powder reservoirlocated within the housing, wherein the limit stop is movable by theuser's breathing air for releasing the preloaded dosing apparatus, andwherein accelerated motion of the dosing apparatus may be blockedsuddenly by the stop piece.
 2. The inhalation device according to claim1, wherein the dosing apparatus is a dosing ball that includes a bearingwith a centric bore, and wherein the dosing ball is pivotable around anaxle end of the housing.
 3. The inhalation device according to claim 2,wherein the elastic fastening device is a torsion spring pivotable onthe axle end of the housing and having a short leg and a long leg, theshort leg connected with the dosing ball, and the long leg connectedwith a pivotable operating lever of the device at an outer side of anexterior of the housing via a curved oblong hole defined in the housingand in axial alignment with the axle end of the housing for turning andpreloading the dosing ball.
 4. The inhalation device according to claim3, wherein the operating lever is guided using a tappet in the oblonghole and is configured to be arrested with the dosing ball in preloadedposition by one of interlocking and passing over a dead centre.
 5. Theinhalation device according to claim 3, wherein a cap is slidablymounted to a free end of the operating lever, and wherein the cap isslidable onto the mouthpiece when the operating level is in an initialposition.
 6. The inhalation device according to claim 5, wherein a diskis fitted to the cap, and wherein the cap covers an inspection glassprovided in the housing adjacent a lower part of the powder reservoirwhen the cap is slid onto the mouthpiece.
 7. The inhalation deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the dosing ball is removable from thehousing.
 8. The inhalation device according to claim 1, wherein thedosing apparatus is a dosing ball, wherein the limit stop is movable insync with the user's respiration and is mounted to a trip flap thatseals the air duct, wherein the limit stop is pivotable in the housingdirectly in front of the dosing ball and in linkage with the stop pieceof the dosing ball when the dosing ball is in preloaded position, thedosing ball positioned in the air, duct such that the stop piececontacts the bottom of the housing by action of a torsion spring afterthe movable trip flap is released, and wherein the dosing cavity isplaced outside the range of the powder discharge hole.
 9. The inhalationdevice according to claim 1, wherein the powder reservoir is made of atransparent material, and wherein an inspection glass is provided in thehousing adjacent a lower part of the powder reservoir.
 10. Theinhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the dosing cavity is arecess having a hemispherical shape.
 11. The inhalation device accordingto claim 1, wherein a nasal adapter for intranasal inhalation is one ofdetachably and fixedly inserted into the mouthpiece.
 12. The inhalationdevice according to claim 11, wherein the nasal adapter comprises acomponent protruding from an opening of the mouthpiece, and wherein thecomponent includes a flow duct that is sealed airtight when put againsta nostril of the user.
 13. The inhalation device according to claim 1,wherein the powder reservoir is configured to hold a single fill ofabout 200 doses of powdered active medicinal substance.
 14. Theinhalation device according to claim 1, wherein the dosing apparatus isa dosing ball, and wherein a pumping device is provided inside thehousing, the pumping device including a compressed air reservoir whichis in fluid communication with the dosing cavity via a valve such thatcompressed stored in the compressed air reservoir is released by thevalve simultaneously with the release of the dosing ball by the movablelimit stop.
 15. The inhalation device according to claim 14, wherein thepumping device is connected at one end with a bellows held on a movablesupport plate, wherein an opposite end of the pumping device issupported against a transverse wall in the housing via an angle lever,wherein the angle lever is a means of power transmission, wherein theangle lever is connected at an opposite end thereof to a tappet of anoperating lever of the device, and wherein the bellows is incommunication with a hollow space in an axle end of the housing via anair exit hole to a compressed air duct in the housing and a radial axleend hole defined in the housing.
 16. The inhalation device according toclaim 15, wherein the dosing ball includes a bearing with a centricbore, and where in the valve for controlling the compressed air in syncwith respiration from the bellows to the air duct is formed by theradial axle end hole, an additional radial axle end hole defined in thehousing, a wall of the bore of the bearing of the dosing ball, and aradial valve hole in the dosing ball, the radial valve hole in alignmentwith one of the radial axle end holes when the stop piece rests on thebottom of the housing.
 17. The inhalation device according to claim 16,wherein a curved blowpipe is connected to the radial valve hole in aperipheral surface area of the dosing ball, and wherein an opening ofthe blowpipe points from outside the dosing ball towards the dosingcavity.